Chapter 30: A Clash of Blades

Ethan gazed at Poulton.  

A 6-star knight, known as an elite.  

This was the stage where one began to grasp the essence of the sword, a level respected anywhere.  

And some of the Branch Families’ leaders have knights of this caliber.  

The Fernes County, led by Cheimon, and the Amelton County, led by Irdan.  

To bring down these two houses, Ethan needed the strength to defeat elite knights.  

It’s tough for now.  

Even as a Transcendent in his past life, he’d only been training for a little over a month in this one.  

Suppressing a 6-star knight right now was beyond him.  

At best, I could stall for time.  

The knight ranks from 1 to 10 weren’t arbitrary.  

Each rank represented a significant gap in ability, hence the distinct titles.  

Flame Serpent, the first form of his Secret Sword Art.  

Even with this technique, defeating a 6-star knight was impossible.  

The speed of a knight dodging the spreading heat would far outpace its reach.  

A spar with slim chances of victory.  

Yet Ethan requested it to objectively assess his own strength.  

Sparring was one of the best ways to understand one’s true capabilities.  

It’ll be good experience.  

Facing a 6-star knight was a rare opportunity, especially in a small Barony like this.  

A golden chance.  

And Ethan wasn’t foolish enough to let fear of defeat make him miss it.  

At his challenge to spar, Poulton’s eyes gleamed.  

After a brief moment of hesitation, he nodded.  

“Very well.”  

“Then come.”  

“Yes.”  

The two headed to the training ground in the Inner Castle.  

Upon arriving, Ethan drew his two-handed sword and assumed a stance.  

Poulton nodded, observing.  

No openings whatsoever.  

His stance is flawless.  

He’d heard the rumors about the Archduke.  

A man who, shortly after waking from a coma, had defeated the Kargas Barony’s knight order.  

His fluid control of mana suggested he’d successfully completed the Resonance process.  

To achieve that with a shattered mana hole.  

It was a heaven-sent talent.  

Poulton’s earlier probing was driven by curiosity about that talent.  

The result was astonishing.  

Not only did the Archduke notice the probe, but he dispersed Poulton’s mana instantly.  

It meant Ethan’s mana control surpassed his own.  

That shocked him.  

A talent beyond the term “genius”—an incomprehensible gift.  

That’s why he readily accepted the spar.  

Poulton drew his longsword.  

Shorter than a greatsword, it allowed for quicker attacks at close range.  

“Ready?”  

“Yes.”  

They circled each other silently.  

Ethan struck first.  

His greatsword THRUST toward Poulton’s face.  

Poulton’s eyes widened.  

Fast!  

Far faster than expected.  

The mana swirling within him spread naturally through his body.  

His longsword, imbued with blue mana, met the greatsword.  

Then it happened.  

The greatsword, bending like a serpent, slipped past the longsword and STABBED at Poulton’s side.  

What!  

A snake-like sword technique?  

He’d never seen or heard of such a style.  

Momentarily startled, Poulton circulated mana through his body.  

His form blurred.  

The greatsword sliced through empty air.  

Now I see why the knight order lost.  

Poulton spoke quietly.  

The Archduke’s mana reserves weren’t large—perhaps 2-star knight level.  

But that mana carried explosive power.  

Mediocre knights would be swept away, unable to resist.  

By Poulton’s standards, the Kargas Barony’s knights were just that—mediocre.  

“Now I’ll go first.”  

Poulton’s form vanished.  

In an instant, he appeared behind Ethan, thrusting his longsword.  

A speed most knights couldn’t react to.  

BANG!  

But the Archduke was different.  

He effortlessly blocked the longsword with his greatsword.  

Then, as if it were only natural, he counterattacked.  

Incredible.  

Truly astonishing.  

Was this really the swordsmanship of someone awake for just over a month?  

It was excessively precise, swift, and sharp.  

Its efficiency was beyond question.  

Even Poulton was gaining insights watching Ethan’s swordplay.  

How to wield a sword.  

How to distribute mana.  

How to position oneself.  

The Archduke was a living textbook.  

During an exchange of thrusts, Ethan grinned and spoke.  

“As expected, it’s a bit tough.”  

“To push me this far with your mana reserves is already remarkable, Archduke.”  

Poulton spoke earnestly, with pure sincerity.  

Knight ranks were typically judged by mana reserves.  

The more mana one had, the higher the body’s potential for growth.  

The Archduke…  

Despite modest mana reserves, he moved like someone of a higher rank.  

If he gained 4-star mana or more, what then?  

Even Poulton might struggle to defeat him.  

Then it happened.  

“Let’s get serious.”  

“…What?”  

At those abrupt words, Poulton tilted his head.  

In an instant, Ethan’s speed exploded.  

Far faster than when they first clashed.  

Poulton gasped.  

BANG!  

BANG!  

Dozens of strikes were exchanged every second.  

Sweat beaded on the elite knight’s face.  

That moment had been truly dangerous.  

If he’d been even slightly careless, he’d have taken a hit, unable to bridge the speed gap.  

After five minutes of relentless attacks, Ethan gradually calmed.  

Soon, Poulton’s longsword was at his throat.  

“Huff, huff… I lost.”  

Despite winning, Poulton’s expression was rigid.  

A monster.  

Truly a monster.  

From the sudden burst of speed to the explosive energy—it was incomprehensible.  

“Archduke.”  

“What?”  

“Did you hold back at the start?”  

“No, that was just one of the family’s secret techniques.”  

“Oh…”  

The Ardan Ducal House.  

The premier swordsmanship house of the Western Continent.  

If it was a secret technique from such a family, the sudden burst of power made sense.  

A high-level technique could unleash explosive strength without straining the user.  

Of course, Ethan had said this because explaining the Eight Rings was tricky.  

“The spar was fun.”  

“I… enjoyed it too, Archduke.”  

No matter how great his talent, Poulton had thought Ethan was below him for now.  

He was wrong.  

The Archduke was already a complete knight.  

The only thing he lacked was time.  

In half a year…  

Poulton wasn’t sure he could defeat him.  

He gave a wry smile.  

The Ardan Ducal House.  

The spiritual idol of all knights, a house that showed true chivalry in the Dragonkin War.  

He’d thought it was a falling giant.  

But lo and behold.  

From beneath the fallen tree, a seed was sprouting.  

One with explosive potential to grow even greater.  

“Archduke.”  

“Yeah?”  

“Will you continue sparring with me?”  

Ethan’s face lit up.  

Elite knights were typically prideful.  

Most would dismiss him based on his mana reserves alone, let alone spar.  

For a 6-star knight to request ongoing spars?  

There was no reason to refuse.  

“Are you serious?”  

“Yes. I gained much insight from this spar. Please, I beg you.”  

Poulton bowed deeply.  

After reaching 6-star, five years had passed without progress.  

Today’s spar with the Archduke gave him a glimpse of enlightenment.  

It was just a fragment, but…  

If these fragments accumulate…  

He might reach the 7-star realm, the Grand Knight level.  

This was a huge opportunity.  

Pride?  

What use was pride in advancing one’s rank?  

If he could keep sparring with the Archduke, Poulton would bow or even kneel.  

“Then let’s spar whenever we can.”  

“Thank you.”  

The atmosphere was warm.  

After the spar, Poulton returned to his room.  

He pulled a crystal orb from his pocket and touched it to a mana stone.  

Light filled the orb.  

“Marquis Bloten, have you been well?”  

“Sir Poulton? I’ve been fine. What’s the occasion for contacting me?”  

“I have a report about the Archduke.”  

At those words, Bloten’s eyes gleamed in the crystal’s reflection.  

The Archduke.  

The figure Marquis Bloten was most focused on recently.  

His son Jeyron had risen noticeably after meeting him.  

According to Jeyron, Ethan was cautious, serious, yet bold.  

It was the first time his son had praised someone so highly, especially a peer.  

That’s why he’d readily delivered Ethan’s letter to the king.  

The Archduke’s potential couldn’t be overlooked.  

Even now.  

In less than a month since awakening, he’d toppled a Barony.  

The king had misjudged due to Ethan’s maneuvering, creating a stage for him to run wild.  

News of the Archduke’s awakening had drawn exiled Ducal House officials to the Barony, and the Ducal Territory’s residents were watching his moves closely.  

The starting point of a massive change in the Hydern Kingdom.  

To Marquis Bloten, that starting point was the Archduke.  

Having begun a friendly relationship with such a figure, every move mattered.  

His actions could determine the Besos Marquisate’s rise or fall.  

“Tell me.”  

At Bloten’s words, Poulton began recounting the spar.  

As the explanation continued, Bloten’s eyes widened.  

Skill enough to make a 6-star knight nervous…  

A jaw-dropping growth rate.  

“Very interesting. Keep reporting on the Archduke, anything at all.”  

“Understood.”  

The communication ended.  

Bloten sank into thought.  

The Ten Branch Families versus the Archduke.  

He’d estimated their odds as even until now.  

But Poulton’s report tilted his judgment firmly toward one side.  

Unless something extraordinary happens…  

The victor of this war would likely be the Archduke.  

In war, betting on the winner reaps the most rewards.  

I should send a gift.  

Something substantial.  

The Marquis’s eyes sparkled.